Current Affairs - International - Discussion

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960, a landmark water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, was brokered by the World Bank. It allocated exclusive rights to India over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and granted Pakistan control over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) while allowing India limited non-consumptive use of the western rivers. The treaty remains one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements in the world. Despite tensions between the two countries, the treaty has largely held firm due to its robust legal structure and international backing, with the World Bank playing a crucial role in its formation and continuing oversight.